A staggering 169.3 million years of healthy life were lost due to cancer in 2008, and there was an estimated 8.8 M deaths from cancer during 2015, highlighting the importance of progressing research towards treatment of this disease. Experts predict that by 2030, there will be ~23.6 M new cancer cases each year. Cancer: Risk Factors

Several factors, including age, genetics and, environmental and lifestyle factors, can influence an individual’s risk of developing cancer. We have highlighted some of them below:

Tobacco and Alcohol: It is estimated that ~33% of cancer cases are associated with tobacco smoke exposure and experts conclude that tobacco is the single largest, avoidable, cause of cancer worldwide.3,4 Shockingly, smoking is responsible for 80% of lung cancers. Quitting smoking can reduce your risk of several cancers including but not limited to; lung, larynx, stomach, bladder and cervical.5

When it comes to alcohol, cancer risk increases in a dose-dependent manner; the more alcohol consumed, the greater the risk of developing cancer. Ethanol and acetaldehyde, its genotoxic metabolite, play a key role in the carcinogenicity of alcohol.5

Diet, body weight and exercise:Researchers have investigated the potential link between an individual’s diet and cancer, their conclusion; the food we eat can affect our risk of cancer.5,6

Excess body fat can increase a person’s risk of cancer. Eating more fruit and vegetables can reduce the risk of aerodigestive tract cancers. Red and processed meat can increase the risk of colorectal cancer, whereas dietary fibre protects against it.7 Weight gain, through physical inactivity, is also associated with and increased risk of cancer. Survey data indicated that more than one third of the European adult population is physically inactive.8 Being more physically active is certainly advised, as research shows it decreases the risk of multiple cancer types, for example; breast, colon, lung, and endometrial.5

Infection: Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) can cause cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, anus, as well as back of the throat. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends vaccinating new-borns as a preventative measure. HIV, hepatitis C, amongst others, are also cancer causing.

We have summarized the “12 ways to reduce your cancer risk”,5 outlined by the European Code against Cancer:

To sum up their progress during 2017, Cancer Research UK shortlisted their news, press releases and announcements from 2017 and asked Peter Breaden, a retired biomedical scientist, pancreatic cancer survivor and Media Volunteer to select his most significant cancer research stories of the year.

The Institute of Cancer Research published their top scientific achievements of 2017. Researchers identified a new cause of kidney cancer in children; developed a 3-in-1 blood test of prostate cancer; discovered a molecule crucial to the growth of triple-negative breast cancers that could be targeted by drugs; and they located a ‘safety catch’ that oversees normal cell division, the discovery of this ‘switch’ could lead to new cancer treatments.

At the end of January 2018, the BBVA Foundation announced that James (Jim) P. Allison, the creator of the first immunotherapy to prove highly effective against cancer, was to be awarded the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award (Biomedicine category).

These are just some of 2017’s incredible achievements and announcements, there will surely be more impressive strides toward the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer during 2018…

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